The average salary for a barista in California is around $42,280 per year.
Avg Salary
Baristas earn an average yearly salary of $42,280.
Wages typically start from $35,530 and go up to $47,950.
49% below national average Updated in 2025
Barista earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level barista earnings begin at:
$23.05 per hour
$47,950 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level barista earnings begin at:
$21.62 per hour
$44,970 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level barista earnings begin at:
$20.33 per hour
$42,280 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level barista earnings begin at:
$17.69 per hour
$36,790 per year
10th percentile
Starting level barista earnings begin at:
$17.08 per hour
$35,530 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Barista salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $42,280 |
| Washington | $37,710 |
| District of Columbia | $37,430 |
| Colorado | $36,270 |
| Vermont | $36,030 |
| Massachusetts | $35,850 |
| Connecticut | $35,380 |
| Hawaii | $35,250 |
| New York | $35,250 |
| Oregon | $35,050 |
| Maine | $34,710 |
| Arizona | $34,230 |
| New Jersey | $34,150 |
| Illinois | $33,910 |
| Maryland | $33,660 |
| Alaska | $33,280 |
| Nevada | $31,950 |
| New Hampshire | $31,590 |
| Rhode Island | $31,490 |
| Minnesota | $31,370 |
| Delaware | $31,300 |
| Missouri | $30,390 |
| Virginia | $30,110 |
| North Dakota | $30,080 |
| South Dakota | $29,490 |
| Montana | $29,090 |
| Florida | $29,080 |
| Nebraska | $29,000 |
| Idaho | $28,940 |
| Michigan | $28,930 |
| Indiana | $28,790 |
| New Mexico | $28,700 |
| Utah | $28,670 |
| Wisconsin | $28,600 |
| North Carolina | $28,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,570 |
| Ohio | $28,430 |
| Iowa | $28,390 |
| Wyoming | $27,860 |
| Texas | $27,740 |
| Kansas | $27,580 |
| South Carolina | $27,520 |
| Tennessee | $27,470 |
| Kentucky | $27,130 |
| Georgia | $26,920 |
| Arkansas | $26,250 |
| West Virginia | $26,070 |
| Alabama | $23,700 |
| Oklahoma | $23,430 |
| Louisiana | $22,800 |
| Mississippi | $22,610 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $21,280 |
| Guam | $19,580 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,120 |
How do barista salaries compare to similar careers?
Baristas earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than restaurant cooks but more than maitres d'.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Restaurant cook salary | $45K |
| Bartender salary | $36K |
| Food server salary | $36K |
| Baker salary | $43K |
| Food batchmaker salary | $42K |
| Barista salary | $42K |
| Food preparation worker salary | $39K |
| Sewing machine operator salary | $38K |
| Cashier salary | $37K |
| Maitre d' salary | $37K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)